Reply to Leuzinger et al.: Drought-induced tree mortality temperature sensitivity requires pressing forward with best available science

Forest and woodland vulnerability to tree mortality in response to future drought and warmer temperatures is emerging as a potentially critical impact of global change (1). We directly addressed this issue experimentally in our recent study (2), on which Leuzinger et al. comment (3). Notably, we showed drought-induced tree mortality was highly temperature-sensitive, raising concern about future die-off. Other experimental studies isolating the effect of warmer temperature on drought-induced tree mortality are lacking—a major knowledge gap given how directly such a relationship underpins the potential impacts of climate change. The shorter survival period under warmer temperatures quantified in our study correspondeds to a difference in …